Magnetic toy game



`lune 11, 1957 D. SACHS MAGNETIC TOY GAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept.27, 1954 FIG DAVID SACHS INVENTOR.

BY l 0,27

June 1l, 1957 D. sAcHs 2,795,427

' MAGNETIC ToY GAME:

Filed sept. 2'?, 1954 2 sheets-sheet 2 DAVID SACHS INI/Emma UnitedStates Patent" MAGNETIC TOY GAME David Sachs, Seattle, Wash.

Application September 27, 1954, Serial No. 458,399

6 Claims. (Cl. 273-153) This present invention relates to the generalclass of educational toys and more particularly to a toy which builds upand maintains its interest through the employment of magnetic means. Thegame consists of a fixed base and a spaced apart, fixed, table surfacewhich is centrally supported from Ithe base member; and intermediate thebase member and the playing surface, is a rotatable disc which isarranged to carry one or more units which are magnetic to the extent ofattracting the needle of a compass. In certain instances they may beactually permanent magnets. To complete the essential parts for playingthe magnetic game, an open-faced magnetic compass is used. The interestsustaining element of the game is provided by guring out and determiningthe position of the hidden magnetic elements on the rotating discs,using a compass on the upper playing surface.

Experience has proven that the game devices that will in the long runhold childrens attention are those involving certain educationalfeatures. It is believed that probably -a more appropriate term would bea device that gives education to the extent of familiarization to theend that the broad principles involved can be readily understood,Without the tedious detail which might otherwise become burdensome, andcause children, particularly, to lose interest in the game. In thispresent game, the chance element is provided by the fact that thetreasure chest carrytreasures position for each successive player Iandwhich further may be variably arranged to require increased skill in theuse of a magnetic compass.

Further objects, advantages and capabilities will be apparent from thedescription and disclosure in the drawings, or may be comprehended orare inherent in the device.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view illustrating a preferred physicalembodiment of my game as made after the teachings of 'this presentinvention;

Figure 2 is a typical vertical sectional View through the game assemblyof Figure l Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view in whichthe parts of Figure 2 are shown in increased scale so as to insure theirmore ready understanding;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective View partly in section andillustrating in greater detail the structural features of the device;and

Figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating the manner of mounting thebar magnet in the treasure chest.

Referring more particularly to the disclosure in the drawings, thenumeral 10 designates the base `element of my game which might be anyperipheral shape; the preferred form i-s a circle of the same size asthe other two elements of the board. Secured concentrically with basemember 10 is bearing member 12. This is preferably secured as by screws14 to the underside of base member 10 in :a manner so that the bottomsurface will be a flat plane. Bearing member 12 terminates in Iits upperextent in a. squared or otherwise deformed end, as indicated at 16, sothat the playing board 18, which provides the map ing `disc isrevolvable so that it may be spun at the beginning of each game period.Thus it will not be known where the treasure chest actually stops. Thepl'ayers application is required in using the magnetic compass. Thisnormally will be placed at random lon the board, and due to the spinningof the treasure chest carrying disc, each player -is really lstartingfrom scratch, and must then determine the position of the treasure chestby moving the compass about until the treasure chest is close enough toit to affect the magnetic needle and thus point the needle to the chest.When the player believes he has made a definite location, he can thenraise one of the removable blocks from `the playing surface anddetermine whether or not the survey procedure was accurate. Followingthese principles, it is believed that a very entertaining andeducational game has Ibeen provided for children yand persons throughouta wide age range.

The principal object of my present invention is to provide a -toy orgame which makes use of the interest sustaining qualities of magnetism,vand which requires the players individual efforts in order that he makea solution of the game, and in this way obtain the beneficial eX-periences which will give him -a familiarization with the principles ofmagnetism.

A further object of my invention is to provide a magnetic toy game whichmakes use of the century-old buried treasure hunt as the `game basis andwhich through the use of a treasure chest and compass simulates theexperiences generally associated with -a treasure hunt.

A further object of my device is to provide, in a magnetic toy game, arotary element which changes the -surface 20, may be fixedly secured topost l2 as by means of the clamp plate 22 and the necessary holdingscrews. Disposed intermediate the upper board 18 and the lower board 10is the revolving board 24.

One convenient `construction to insure the free revolving lof board 22is detailed in Figure 3 in which a bearing plate 30 is provided uponwhich is disposed a thrust washer 32, preferably -of the ball bearingtype, so that friction will be kept at a minimum. This bearing iscentered by a slightly enlarged portion 34 of the pillar portion of post12. Disposed -above bearing 32 is an externally .threaded bushing member36 which is held in tight engagement with board 24 by the two lockcollars 38 and 39.

The playing board 18 is provided on its upper suface, in addition to thepirate map 20, with a plurality of concentrically disposed throughopenings 40, each of which is provided with an appropriate cover member42. Preferably, as noted in Figure 3, it has been found desirable toprovide finger notches `as 44 so that the thumb and forefinger of theplayer, as is indicated in dashed lines at 46, may conveniently lift thecover member 42 off of ledges 47 and 48 and permit the player to lookdownwardly through the opening 4i).

Revolving disc 24 is provided with niches as 50 adapted to provide arest or seat for the magnetic treasure chest 52. It is preferred that aplurality of niches 5t) be provided to the end that the position of thetreasure chest might be changed so that it could not be identified asbeing associated with some handle, as 54, for instance. It is arequirement, however, that niches 50 be concentrically disposed with thecenter of rotation and be of the same radius as the through openings 40in disc 18. Thus the treasure would always be viewable from the properopening 40. To provide variety and to call `for a more accuratedetermination of position by the means of compass 60, treasure chest 52may be made of magnetic iron or it may contain a magnet of the permanentbar type and may be placed in various other niches 50. Also secured tothe upper surface of board 24 may be magnetic iron pieces, as 53,preferably `.not magnets, which will serve to attract the compass needleto a degree, and thus the determination of the location of treasurechest 52 will not be the simple routine of merely setting down thecompass 'and seeing which way it lis pointing. The peculiarity of uxflow is that .it varies greatly with distance. 'Consequently 'a smallmagnet Afor a piece of Vmagnetic Airon close to the compass 'wouldappear 4to attract it rnore tirmly than the heavier `permanent magnetswith much greater attractive power but 'at a greater distance. Ittherefore follows that the placement of the magnetic material will havea very determining inu'ence on vthe performance of the compass andthediiiculties-of playing the game.

. AMethod 'of play In ,playing my game in its Isimplest form, such as issuitable for younger children,` disc 24 is spun, in either direction by`rxieans of one of the handles 54. When the revolving disc has come torest, which normally would take 'some time due to its frictionlessmounting, the rst player places compass '60 on the upper surface ofplaying board 18 and allows the needle 62 to come to rest. rThe needlewill come to rest pointing in the direction of treasure chest 52provided it is made of magnetic material but is not magnetizedto havepolarity. It is also necessary that the compass be placed sufficientlyclose to the treasure chest so that the lines of force of Ythemagnetized needle will pick up the magnetic material. The player then,by shifting the compass about on the surface of the playing board, willfinally be reasonably assured that the treasure chest is immediatelyunder one of the cover members 42. The cover member is then lifted, andif the treasure chest is visible through opening 40, the player has wona point.

For children of an older age group, say to l5 years of age, the game maybe greatly complicated 4by having the treasure chest made after theteachings of Figure 5 in which a bar magnet 64 is embodied in the chest,giving the bar magnet appreciable length so that the north and southpoles are spaced apart somewhat. Remembering that the compass needle isin eect a bar magnet with a north and a south pole, basically it followsthat the like poles repel each other and the unlike attract. Therefore,if the south pole of the treasure chest should be pointed in the generaldirection of the compass, it will attract the north point end and givethe intelligence normally sought. if on the other hand the poles arereversed or an opposite approach made, the south end of the cornpassneedle will be attracted :and the compass needle will then point in adirection opposite that which would assist in locating the treasurechest. Certain other phenomena of course are present when the twomagnets are substantially parallel when they get within attracting rangeand this will cause considerable wonderment on the part of the players.Experience has indicated that with such a prelude the practicaldetermination of certain of the physical laws relating to magnetism willbe thought out and remembered by the stud-ent so that this game Vmaytruly be considered an educational game. With the prevalence of smallbar magnets which have commercial use, as in pot holders and holders forpencils, knives, andthe like, magnets have been made in small bar form,and if these are stuck, as by adhesive tape, to the surface of the board24, they will be additional hazards to the quick solution of the game.However the main magnet'in the treasure chest should be of considerablygreater strength than any of the auxiliary magnets so used. Othervariations to the game can be made by the application of bits of softiron which have the faculty of attracting the compass needle.

. lt is believed that it will be clearly apparent from the abovedescription and the disclosure inl the drawings that the inventioncomprehends a novel construction of a magnetic toy game.V

yIflaving thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

l. A magnetic toy game, comprising: three superimposed circular boardsin Aclosely spaced parallel relationship, the lowermost board forming abase and having an upstanding standard with a non-circular upper end andthe uppermost board forming a playing surface and having an openingfitting said non-circular end and fastening means securing the Yend 1inthe opening whereby said playing board is iixedly positioned, saidstandard having an anti-frictional thrust bearing positioned betweensaid base and the intermediate VVboard land said intermediate boardhaving a central opening in which is positioned an externally vthreadedcentral bushing member resting on said thrust bearing and positioned ona reduced diameter portion of said standard land lock washers on upperand lower surfaces of said intermediate board securing said bushingmember whereby said intermediate board is supported Ias a rotor disc,said playing board having a multiplicity of marginal openings eachhaving amanually 'removable opaque cover plate, said rotor Vhaving vaniche therein positioned to rotate in a path of travel under saidmarginal openings which are spaced closely together so that said nichewill be viewable through one of said openings in all positions, a gameobject having a magnet positioned in said niche, and a movable compassdisposed on said playing board for determining the location of saidobject magnet by magnetic 'coaction therewith when said cover plates`are closed.

2. A magnetic toy game, comprising: three superimposed circular boardsin closely spaced parallel relationship, the lowermost hoard forming labase and having an upstanding standard with a deformed upper end and theuppermost board forming a playing surface and having means engaging saiddeformed end iixedly positioning the playing board, said standard'having anti-frictional thrust -bearing means supporting `theintermediate board for rotation thereby forming a rotor disc and therotor having a plurality of identical outstanding handles for manualrotation of the same, said playing board having a multiplicity ofmarginal openings with interior ledges and each marginal opening 'havingan lopaque cover plate sitting on said ledges and opposite sides of .thelmarginal openings having finger receiving notches `for manual re movalof the covers, said rotor having a niche therein positioned Ito rotatein a path of travel under said marginal openings which are spacedclosely together so that said niche will be viewable through one of theopenings in all positions, a game object resembling a treasure chesthaving a magnet embedded therein positioned in said niche, a pluralityof magnetic iron pieces disposed on the surface of said rotor of lessmagnetic attraction than said game object for producing -a complexmagnetic field, and a movable compass disposed on said playing board fordetermining the location of said object magnet by magnetic coactiontherewith when said cover plates are closed.

3. A magnetic toy game, comprising: a pair of superimposed boards theuppermost of which forms a playing board and covers the lower board inparallel relation- Ship thereto, supporting means for said boardssupporting one of said boards to rotate relative the other about anupright axis in the central portion of said boards, said playing boardhaving a multiplicity of radially disposed openings outside of itscentral portion and each having a manually openable opaque cover, thelower 'board hav .ing a plurality vof niches therein 'aligned with Ythe`area of said marginal openings in said playing board and said marginalopenings being spaced closely together so lthat each niche will beVviewable through -one of the openings in all positions, a first magnetforming the game object positioned in one of said niches selected atrandom by the players, a second magnetic object 'on said 'lower board ofless strength than said magnet for producing a complex magnetic field,and a movable compassdisposed on said. .playing .board for determiningthe location of said game object by magnetic coaction therewith whensaid covers are closed.

4. A magnetic toy game, comprising: a pair of superimposed boards theuppermost of which forms a playing board and covers the lower board inparallel relationship thereto, supporting means for said boardssupporting one of said boards to rotate relative the other about an axisin the central portion of said boards, said playing board having yamultiplicity of radially disposed openings outside -of its centralportion and manually openable opaque cover means for said openings, thelower board having a niche therein aligned with the area of saidmarginal openings in said playing board and said marginal openings beingspaced closely together so that said niche will be viewable through oneof the openings in all positions upon removal of said cover means, amagnetic member, forming the game object, positioned in said niche and amovable compass disposed on said playing board for determining thelocation of said game object by magnetic coaction therewith when saidcover ing board and covering the lower board in parallel relationshipthereto, supporting rneans supporting the lower board for rotation aboutan axis in the central portion of said boards, a first magnetic memberforming a game object supported on said lower board and beneath saidplaying board at a point spaced from the axis of rotation of saidplaying board, said playing board being opaque thereby normallyconcealing the location of said game object and having manually operablemeans removable to reveal said game object, and a movable compassdisposed on said playing board for determining the location of said gameobject by magnetic coaction therewith when said manually operable meansis in place and the game object is concealed.

6. The subject matter of claim 5 in which there is a second magneticobject on said lowei board of less strength than said first magneticobject for producing a complex magnetic field.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 798,337Hammarlund Aug. 29, 1905 1,461,633 Stansbury Iuly 10, 1923 1,472,568Seher Oct. 30, 1923 2,588,817 Fortner Mar. 11, 1952 2,632,648 NeuzerlingMar. 24, 1953

